Missing Features and Complaints

[Bailey Kessing]

So, what we really have is FileMaker Pro 7.5 not 8. What's your complaint?

[Bailey Kessing]

They fixed a number of FM7 bugs that should have been fixed before 8. Late but great. BUT the big problem that I have with "8" is that it is still missing the ability to determine file paths via calculations! Can't believe this. They have an editable dialog box in which you can add File References to import or export files, but there isn't a way to script this without 3rd party plugins. Really Really Really ridiculous. I am so tired of complaining about this lack. What's the deal? Should be a breeze to add given the "File Reference" feature added in 7.

[SlimJim]

I think you are misinformed: it is possible to determine filepaths by calculation and there is, within windows at least, access to user specific paths Get(DesktopPath), Get(DocumentsPath).

[Robben]

I am so tired of complaining about this lack. What's the deal?

Reading some of the new basic info is the deal. You can use the new variables for it.

[Fenton]

[ignore this post. I was oh so wrong. Read SlimJim's post.]

I agree with Bailey (mostly). There is still no way to script dynamic export/import paths. You cannot use those shiny new functions like Get (DesktopPath) in an export/import path (AFAIK). You still need a 3rd party tool to move the file there, from its fixed known location. The "known" part can be a problem, though there are locations that should be there on either platform. All 3rd party tools can dynamically return these locations; they don't need FileMaker functions to do so. What we need is a button to actually use those functions in the export/import file path dialog.

The fact that FileMaker is adding those functions seems to me a hint that they are moving in that direction. It must be more difficult that we think to enable scriptability for those file references. But Troi File has done it for quite a while. Also, David McKee (who I believe still works for FileMaker, but not in that capacity) did it quite a while ago, for free, with his free (awesome) FileToolbox plug-in; but that was pre-7.

[SlimJim]

When you do the export script step type the variable filepath into the Specify Output File Dialog.

For example, using a local variable $filepath

Set Variable[$filepath;Value:"file:" & Get(DesktopPath) & Company::Filename]

Export Records ["$filepath";Windows(ANSI)]

exports onto my desktop a file with the name given in the Filename field in the Company table.

In the Export records box you can as usual choose the fields you want to export etc.

[xochi]

Missing feature : More events. FM8 really ought to have events that trigger scripts for a bunch of situations -- field enter/leave/exit/value change/validation fail, window close, tab panel change...

[Bailey Kessing]

SlimJim!! You are right!!! I would never have figured that you could do that with the new variables and File References!! Thanks. I take back half of my complaint about FM8. I still think that a SIMPLE way to add calculations to the File Reference would be more intuitive, but I will take whatever means other than a plugin. THANKS! THANKS! THANKS!

[Fenton]

All I can say is I'll eat my hat :-) This is wonderful.

[macguys]

Yes...we need event triggers for audit trails, security logs, etc.

[rivet]

Double Click

I would love it if buttons (button setup…) had a double and single click script option - hell, throw in a right click option as well.

[Heathbo]

Right click option would be awesome. Especially if you could customize it.

FLASH SUPPORT: I can create buttons in flash that are hundred times better than in FileMaker. It would be nice if FM would load Flash files like web browser do ie. start playing once the record loads.

Quicktime Support: I want controls to automatically start playing a movie, sound, etc. when the record loads. It should just be checkbox that says start automatically.

Better relationships without join files. I don't know about everyone else, but (to me) join files are a pain in the but. Not to mention they litter the graph window making it cluttered.

GRAPH SUPORT: How many versions of FileMaker have we need graphing tools? Seriously, if FM can create a new (very cool) tab tool. A tool most didn't even know they needed. Why can't they go the extra step and create a graph tool? You know how awesome it would be to have native support for graphs without having to buy a plugin or fake it by filling up container fields with text?

Mobile support: There is a new version of FM Mobile to correspond with FM 8. I am hoping beyond all hope that they have fixed many of the thousands of complaints.

[Ender]

Double Click

The only purpose I see for a double click button is when the object must also be movable (like icons.) Are you suggesting this ability to move buttons is needed??

Better relationships without join files.

Join files are a basic part of relational design. Perhaps you don't understand what they're for. (Besides, it is possible to create many-to-many relationships without join files, it's just that it's usually better to use them.)

[comment]

Not necessarily moveable, but selectable. So it could be nice to be able to click-select a record in a list or portal, and double-click to open it Form view. Not that it would be high on my priority list, though.

[spankalee]

What about improving finds? You still can't do a complex find where you want to match one of several values in a field, or match on a field not equaling a value.

There's also basically two ways to do finds in a script. One that makes sense and is easy (perform find with restore), but is limited to pre-determined values, and another that requires many, many script steps and is inelegant (enter find mode, set field, etc). Why can't perform find take variables as values? Then I'd never have to use enter find mode.

[sledg]

I don't have many complaints but I do wish they would add the functionality to hide objects.

You should be able to hide any object based on a calculation.

[comment]

match one of several values in a field

Not sure what you mean by that. You shouldn't have several values in a field anyway.

match on a field not equaling a value.

Match on a field equaling the value, wih omit checked.

[spankalee]

Ok, maybe I should have said "boolean expressions" though FMers seems to recoil at the mention of boolean.

Let's say I want to find all records that have a type of 1 or 3, but don't have a origin of "China".

By "match one of several values in a field" I mean boolean "or". I'd like to type in "1, 3" or "1 or 3" or "1 | 3". By "match on a field not equaling a value" I mean entering "! China" or "!= China" or "<> China"

[Lee Smith]

Why can't you do this with a "OR" find?

[RalphL]

The Omit is the same as not equal and you have been able to OR finds since back in FMP 2 days.

[comment]

It seems you would like to change the procedure (or syntax) to perform a certain kind of Find. That's different from "can't do".

[grantwood]

I wish we could dynamically specify a name when using the following steps:

Perform Script, Set Field, Go to Field.

There are workarounds. For instance, the ZippScript plugin (or the MacExample/WinExample plugin on the developer CD) allows you to dynamically specify a script to perform, but with a caveat: the script won't execute until the current script is finished.

Regards,

Sean Mills

[spankalee]

It seems you would like to change the procedure (or syntax) to perform a certain kind of Find. That's different from "can't do".

Well, you can obtain a complex find by doing several finds in a row, but it's unnecessarily complex and time consuming (both to implement and in processing time). The perform find script step has the potential to be a better find, but it's extremely limited by the fact that it can't handle calculations and do boolean operations.

[Zero Tolerence]

My only complaint is still the inability to copy custom functions. They fixed this with tables and fields in the advanced version, but you still can't copy & paste custom functions.

[Ender]

I don't have a problem copying and pasting custom functions.

[Zero Tolerence]

I mean from one file to another, or an import button on them like you can with regular scripts.

[Jeff Bills]

What's with the stringent Mac OS requirements? 10.3.9 minimum? Yikes! Windows goes back to Windows 2000 . . .

Has anyone tried this with a pre OS X 10.3.9 system?

[Alpha-Snail]

Here's a biggie that everyone's missing:

Alarm Functionality.

You shouldn't have to purchase a pluging (ie. Troi Activator) just to make a contact management application really behave like a contact management application!

[Heathbo]

Better relationships without join files.

Join files are a basic part of relational design. Perhaps you don't understand what they're for. (Besides, it is possible to create many-to-many relationships without join files, it's just that it's usually better to use them.)

[mav]

I'd like to be able to select an item in Layout Mode, then be able to edit the attached script - from either a right-click or from within button set up, rather than closing the button set up window, then manually finding the script within ScriptMaker . . .

Edited September 7, 2005 by Guest

[Ted S]

ditto.

[Ender]

I just feel that, every join file that I've created has been almost identical. So why can't FileMaker have an auto generate join file?

How is FileMaker to know what fields to include in join files/tables? How is FileMaker to know how to join them? Are you suggesting it use some sort of Wizard to ask you, like the report creation thingy? No thanks! I say keep the process the same as it is for creating any other table, and join them explicitly, as needed.

[Søren Dyhr]

Further more isn't the jointable required in every occurance of a many2many structure, I have once and a while been caught using either recursive functions (returndelimited lists) or even repeating fields acting as the jointable. It takes scripts to delete or create joins if a dedicated table is needed, while....

--sd

[Nissim]

What about Printing to a default printer (in windows) without a dialog box

The current Print Setup step restores automatically the printer wich was default during the script creation.

It's a HUGE bug ...

[ddinisco]

This has been one my biggest complaints as well. Add to this item a way to better organize scripts into groups so I don't have to scroll through 200 scripts to find the one I am looking for.